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#1 2020-12-31 02:57:55

dumas
Member
From: Sydney
Registered: 2007-09-01
Posts: 103

[Existing solution/Potential hack project]: PC to raspberry HDMI/TV

Hi guys,

Haven't posted in a loooong time, but have always been loyal arch user for home use.

Recently I got a big TV, and I have been looking to cast/mirror PC screen to the TV.

To my surprise, I can control the TV with android effortlessly via wifi. I read that there is similar wireless TV screen use on Windows 10. However, on desktop Linux, no such solution exists, if my impression serves me right, there are some tricks with Chrome related hardware/software for limited(?) wireless screen cast/mirror.

My current solution is to connect my laptop to the TV via HDMI cable, then use wireless keyboard/mouse combo, and I wrote custom bash scripts wrapping around xrandr to switch between laptop and TV screens for my own specific purpose.

While this satisfies my current itch, I can't help but feel a little bit disappointed about how current Linux desktop is lacking some functionality that a simple smartphone has, and that I'm sure countless Linux users and I dare say Archers have.

Then, this idea came to my mind: rather than connect a Linux PC physically to the TV, perhaps a hack project could be to connect a raspberry pi to the TV, and some XORG built-in or open source solutions exist to cast/mirror from the PC to the raspberry pi through  TCP/UDP? This approach would imply wireless screencast from desktop Linux PC to TV, given the middleman of a raspberry pi with the hack project installed.

I did a tiny bit of internet research, and I admit I haven't completely finished my homework. But I thought this post would be valuable anyway with fellow Archers' input, for my learning and future reference for others also.

Please let me know if similar solutions already exist, or if a relatively simple project can be hacked together, I have a feeling it would be fun!!

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#2 2020-12-31 15:36:56

nd925a
Member
Registered: 2017-01-30
Posts: 44

Re: [Existing solution/Potential hack project]: PC to raspberry HDMI/TV

Many moons ago I had a working VNC settup so I could use CAD on my cheap laptop from anywhere. I couldn't begin to tell you where to look though.

I get the novelty of it, but other than that is there any reason to not just use the pi as a streambox? Especially if you already have the wireless keyboard and mouse.

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#4 2020-12-31 18:23:15

nomorewindows
Member
Registered: 2010-04-03
Posts: 3,542

Re: [Existing solution/Potential hack project]: PC to raspberry HDMI/TV

There is...

Winswitch in the aur and its' counterpart xpra in community.  It allows you to put applications that you want on another X11 screen and not the whole entire desktop.

You might dedicate a wireless router to it (the apple way), to reduce bottlenecking the rest of the network, but if there was a way to make miracast work (the windows way) it would work WiDi (wireless direct).

Last edited by nomorewindows (2020-12-31 18:24:13)

I may have to CONSOLE you about your usage of ridiculously easy graphical interfaces...
Look ma, no mouse.

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#5 2021-01-01 02:35:49

dumas
Member
From: Sydney
Registered: 2007-09-01
Posts: 103

Re: [Existing solution/Potential hack project]: PC to raspberry HDMI/TV

Thanks so much guys, a lot of valuable information.

Disclaimer, I still have not done comprehensive internet research smile

nd925a wrote:

I get the novelty of it, but other than that is there any reason to not just use the pi as a streambox? Especially if you already have the wireless keyboard and mouse.

Stupid question: what do you mean by streambox?



With these links and replies, I need some time to digest them. My current understanding is that current technological solutions can be grouped into 4 classes:
HTTP commands to TV, to launch/control apps on TV, or issue commands to the TV like a TV remote.
miracast/wifidirect, acts as "wireless HDMI cable", but my impression is that the implementation on Linux is not good?
chromecast, which is limited to compatible android apps or browser?
X11 based remote technology, together with raspberry pi or similar set up, can achieve miracast like solution.

Based on available technological solutions, there may be different optimal setup/UX? For example, my original intention is to simply use my TV as a huge screen, but then I'm finding while watching videos works perfectly, some other work are suboptimal. One possible better solution for my personal use is for example, dual X11 sessions on laptop and raspberry pi, and launch certain apps (video, pdf view, some browser content) on TV.

I am not aware of good wiki articles on these issues, apologies and please point out if they exist. If no good wiki article exists, we can organize here and create one, based on available technology and their pros/cons, and different usage scenario and possible setup/solutions (home casual; home/work hybrid; office/teleconference; office laptop-TV presentation, etc)?

Thanks so much and sorry if I'm asking stupid questions or show incomplete knowledge.

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